Dear Remsen Community,

Genuinely good, hard-working people make Remsen a very special place to live, learn, and work. Collectively, we understand that our goal must always be to ensure that we leave our children, for generations to come, with an even better community and school than we had. This is accomplished by continuing to work together to help cultivate our Remsen community and by providing our children the ability to receive an innovative education, full of diverse learning opportunities and experiences. The level of support that our students receive from every district resident is appreciated beyond words. Even if you currently do not have students enrolled in school, your support of Remsen Central plays a critical role in raising, teaching, and growing our youth into productive, responsible, kind, hard-working citizens. It truly does make a difference.

We have been hard at work preparing our Student Opportunities Plan (proposed budget) for the 2023-2024 school year. Thoughtful planning and monthly work sessions enabled our team to develop a fiscally responsible budget, responsive to our students’ needs, with only a slight tax levy increase of 1%. This increase is well below our allowable New York State Property Tax Cap levy increase limit and reflects our commitment to balance the needs of our school district with the challenges that we, as a society, continue to live in.

In addition to voting on the proposed 2023-2024 budget in the amount of $14,315,125, we will also be voting on two propositions. The first proposition on the ballot will be for the purchase of one 66-passenger school bus. The proposed purchase is part of an ongoing bus replacement plan designed to keep the District’s fleet in safe, working order by phasing out buses that are no longer cost effective to maintain. If the proposition is approved, the actual cost to the District will be significantly less than the amount sought. Approximately 82.6% of the cost would be reimbursable through state aid.

The second proposition on the ballot will be to create a capital reserve account to fund improvements to our buildings, fields, and parking lots. This savings account will have a limit of $2,500,000 and is where we may deposit surplus funds over time. Saving for large future capital project expenses is a very important part of maintaining a stable financial condition while ensuring our facilities are safe, efficient, and remain a source of community pride.

Our budget hearing will take place on Tuesday, May 9th at 6:00 PM in the elementary library media center. Please consider joining us to learn more about our Student Opportunities Plan and to hear from our one Board of Education candidate seeking election. If you are unable to attend, the full presentation will be posted to our webpage shortly thereafter. Additional budget and Board of Education election information may also be found throughout this newsletter. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Our school budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 16th, from 1:00 PM until 8:00 PM in the Elementary cafeteria. Voter parking spaces will be reserved at the front of the elementary parking lot closest to the cafeteria doors. Back by popular demand, our FFA students will be selling plants outside of the cafeteria doors starting at 3:00 PM and student artwork will be on display for all to enjoy.

Outstanding educational programs, beautiful facilities and exciting extracurricular clubs and teams; Remsen School District’s strong community makes it all possible for our students. We are Remsen! As always, your support of, and pride in, Remsen Central School will ensure that our students continue to Soar to Success. Thank you!

It is an honor and a privilege to be your superintendent, and to be an alumnus of Remsen Central School.

Sincerely, 

Superintendent